Terms Of Waste Management Research Articles

Construction Waste Production in Macroeconomic Context

This article aims at presenting the economic impacts of implementing the basic principles of construction demolition waste management in terms of saving construction costs. Emphasis is placed on fulfilling the 3R principle, i.e. reducing waste, reusing it, and recycling resources and products. Construction and demolition waste represents the largest mass waste flow in the EU, e.g. in 2018, it represented 36% of the total waste production in the whole EU- 27. The European Union is gradually introducing measures to reduce the production of construction waste compared to the Czech Republic, where the share of construction demolition waste on the total production was up to 42% in 2018. This value exceeds the EU-27 average. The article analyses available statistical data from the national CZSO and the European statistical office EUROSTAT on the waste production classified according to EWC-STAT, which is a classification of waste according to Directive No. 2150/2002. Items monitoring the waste produced by the construction industry are listed on the 41st to 43rd place of the EWC-STAT list of all monitored waste. The data obtained allows comparing three branches of construction production, the 41st Building construction, 42nd Civil engineering, and 43rd Specialized construction activities. Another possibility to obtain data is to use a division according to the waste producer economic activity (CZ NACE). The data obtained in this way is compared with the performance indicators of the national economy. By comparing the size of the construction demolition waste production with the performance of the national economy (especially the GDP indicator), the degree of their interdependence was determined. The aim of the analysis is to assess the relation between the country’s economic performance and the production of construction and demolition waste. The next step was to perform an analysis from the point of view of the 3R principle in order to examine the impact of measures to reduce the construction demolition waste production in connection with the already initiated processes of its possible recycling or reuse.

Circularity and sustainability within waste management in universities: case study of waste management plans (WMPs) in Brazilian public universities

PurposeThis study aims to discuss to what extent are WMPs practical tools for circular and sustainable waste management in universities, presenting, therefore, a case study of the usage of WMP in the Brazilian public universities and comparing this scenario with the international context.Design/methodology/approachThe WMPs were identified by online search and analyzed according to qualitative indicators (spatial-temporal distribution, year, extent and virtual availability), and through circularity and sustainability criteria, using a proposed checklist.FindingsEven being mandatory instruments, only 17% of the 103 public universities in Brazil had a WMP identified, and, among these plans, 55% were restricted to healthcare services waste, only 15% covered all university campuses. Although most of the available plans indicate measures for more sustainable waste management (e.g., recyclable waste collection on campus), they lack specific deadlines for presented goals on waste management, treating waste management at a more emergency pace than in well-structured long-term planning.Originality/valueNumerous studies have discussed waste management strategies for universities worldwide, but few have addressed the usage and structure of WMPs. A case study of the Brazilian situation in light of the international scenario is of great value in understanding the differences between universities in terms of waste management, and with strong potential to support the structuring of more solid environmental policies in universities, especially in developing countries.

Investigation of Anaerobic Digestion of the Aqueous Phase from Hydrothermal Carbonization of Mixed Municipal Solid Waste

In 2017, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that Americans generated over 268 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). The majority (52%) of this waste ends up in landfills, which are the third largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions. Improvements in terms of waste management and energy production could be solved by integrating MSW processing with hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and anaerobic digestion (AD) for converting organic carbon of MSW to fuels. The objectives of this study were to (a) investigate HTC experiments at varying temperatures and residence times (b) evaluate aqueous phase and solids properties, and (c) perform AD bench scale bottle test on the aqueous phase. A mixture of different feedstock representing MSW was used. HTC at 280 °C and 10 min yielded the highest total organic carbon (TOC) of 8.16 g/L with biogas yields of 222 mL biogas/g TOC. Results showed that AD of the aqueous phase from a mixed MSW feedstock is feasible. The integrated approach shows organic carbon recovery of 58% (hydrochar and biogas). This study is the first of its kind to investigate varying temperature and times for a heterogeneous feedstock (mixed MSW), and specifically evaluating HTC MSW aqueous phase anaerobic biodegradability.

Chicken Feather Keratin Peptides for the Control of Keratinocyte Migration

FAO estimates that in 2030 the poultry meat production could reach 120 million tons, which is a challenge in terms of waste management. Feathers are mainly composed of keratin, an important biomaterial. Using feathers as a source of keratin will minimize the waste generated, while contributing to supply an important material for several industries, such as pharmaceutical and biomedical. The peptides were extracted from the feathers by microbial degradation. In this study, we evaluated the peptides effect on keratinocyte metabolic activity and migration. The influence of these peptides on non-activated and activated macrophages was also assessed. It was demonstrated that depending on the keratin peptide fraction in contact with keratinocytes, it is possible to modulate the migration rate of the keratinocytes. Peptide fraction with low molecular weight increases migration, while peptides with a high range of molecular sizes decreases it. Some peptide fractions induce the secretion of TNF-α in non-activated macrophages and not on activated macrophages, demonstrating that these peptides should only be placed in contact with cells, in the context of an ongoing inflammatory process. This work is a step forward on the understanding of keratin peptides influence on keratinocytes and immune cells system cells, macrophages.

E. Greece

This report deals with the past year’s major developments pertaining to Greece’s implementation of international and European Union (EU) environmental law. Undergoing economic turmoil for most of the last decade, Greece is slowly recovering from the financial crisis, paving the way towards a circular, low-carbon economy. A turning point for the country’s sustainable growth was its international commitment to phase out lignite by 2028. On the other hand, the signing of new lease agreements for offshore exploration between the Greek government and private conglomerates may be seen as a threat against its climate change commitments. Last year, the Council of State ‘unlocked’ a major investment in the Metropolitan Pole of Hellinikon-Agios Cosmas in Athens, despite the allegations of environmental organizations and residents that the natural and cultural environment will be severely impacted. In terms of waste management, Greece was found to be lagging behind the rest of the EU...

Life cycle assessment of two packaging materials for carbonated beverages (polyethylene terephthalate vs. glass): Case study for the lebanese context and importance of the end-of-life scenarios

Solutions to environmental issues require decision making based on modeling tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA). Industrial sectors contribute to environmental problems due to their reliance on fossil fuels, overuse of resources and generation of waste. One of these sectors is the carbonated beverages industry where packaging materials are extensively used and are disposed of using various end-of-life management techniques. The aim of this study is to compare the cradle-to-grave life cycle environmental impacts of two packaging materials for a carbonated beverage: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) versus returnable glass. The originality of this research is highlighted through the provision of detailed primary data along with the investigation of the water scarcity for both packaging materials. Several sensitivity analyses are performed, highlighting the importance of the end-of-life scenarios adopted. The database used is ecoinvent, 2019 and the software used to model the life cycle inventory is SimaPro. The IMPACT2002+ method is used to evaluate all environmental impacts except water scarcity which is assessed using the Water Use in Life Cycle Assessment (WULCA) method. The outcomes of the study show that, for the waste scenario considered, the 500 mL PET bottle presents lower impacts than the 250 mL returnable glass bottles. However, as part of the sensitivity analysis, when open-burning is added to the waste scenario of PET to better depict the Lebanese context in terms of waste management, results are shifted and the 250 mL returnable glass bottles present the least environmental impacts. This highlights the importance of designing and implementing sound waste management policies by different policy makers. This paper can promote the use of LCA in industries, especially for developing countries, to find ways to reduce the life cycle impacts of their products, and it can help to raise awareness to the general public on the need of proper waste management. As for the water scarcity footprint, it is estimated at 6.58E-02 m3worldeq for PET and 4.96E-01 m3worldeq for glass.

Zero waste and Wastephilian ethics during COVID-19.

Responsibility toward the planet becomes imperative during the pandemic. Among the pressing issues, this is the management of waste. Ethical considerations on waste pertain to the consistency of adopting viewpoints that confront waste and its reality. Zero waste prospects remain to be an ideal in the perceived sustainable futures. The ethics of wastephilia or wastephilian ethics can reimagine sustainability in terms of waste management. While acknowledging the spectral or circular character of waste, wastephilian ethics confronts this reality by living-with waste.

Selection of waste-to-energy technology for distributed generation using IDOCRIW-Weighted TOPSIS method: A case study of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa

Waste-to-energy has evolved as a promising solution for sustainable power generation as well and waste management. To effectively harness the potential of the waste-to-energy technologies in a sustainable manner, an optimal choice among the diverse technologies is highly essential. The multi-dimensional nature of waste management makes selection of appropriate waste-to-energy option a complex problem. Therefore, a simple and computationally efficient decision tool is required to aid decision making. In this paper, a novel hybrid multi-criteria method based on IDOCRIW and TOPSIS are proposed for optimal selection of the appropriate waste-to-energy technologies for distributed generation. Fourteen criteria were considered spanning through technical, economic, environmental and social factors. Five technologies such as anaerobic digestion, landfill gas recovery, incineration, pyrolysis and gasification were selected due to their level of maturity and availability. The proposed model was tested using the City of Johannesburg, South Africa as a case study. The overall results indicated that anaerobic digestion is the most attractive technology with a relative closeness of 0.9724 to the ideal solution while incineration is ranked worst with a closeness of 0.6474 to the ideal solution. The result also revealed that the integration of anaerobic digestion and gasification could be more promising in terms of waste management. It could also be a good candidate for distributed generation in a microgrid application by serving as a local power generator when integrated to waste management systems of the City of Johannesburg.

Mathematical Modelling of Solid Waste Management in a Higher Educational Institution

In the present day scenario, in developing countries, solid waste management is declared as a dangerous issue. Population explosion, high standard of living, urbanization, lack of knowledge about management of waste etc. are the main cause of waste generation. An educational institution can play an important role in terms of waste management. It is observed that environmental studies is being introduced in all programs as a subject from lower primary up to higher level with the objectives to make concern everyone about their nature from childhood but it could not fulfill the objectives in deed. In this paper we propose a mathematical model using linear programming to manage the solid waste of an educational institution with minimum cost within the limited facilities there in.

Implementasi Bank Sampah Pada ST. Kerta Budi Luhur untuk Pengelolaan Sampah Organik dan Anorganik

ST. Kertha Budi Luhur is the youth organization of the Kayumas Kelod traditional banjar which was founded around 1995. One of the social activities of the Sekaa Teruna is to focus on environmental and waste issues. Related to the issue of waste ST. Kertha Budi Luhur plans to establish a waste bank. The waste bank is an alternative solution that can be done by the community in terms of waste management or management. Waste banks can increase public participation to care more about the waste they produce daily, besides that, with the existence of waste banks, the community can get economic value feedback. Therefore, in this community service, socialization and training were carried out on how to form a waste bank. This community service activity is broadly divided into initial socialization activities aimed at providing initial information about waste banks and technical training activities aimed at providing a more detailed explanation of the waste bank operations, from sorting waste to working with garbage collectors. Increased awareness of waste management by 85% of ST members Kertha Budi Luhur after the training.

Robust Superamphiphilic Membrane with a Closed-Loop Life Cycle.

Oil-spill remediation is an international environmental challenge, and superamphiphilic membranes, as a promising solution, have recently drawn lots of attention. However, the robustness of the conventional membrane design is less satisfying under severe conditions during practical applications. Additionally, it is unavoidable for the membranes to face a series of foulants in their practical working environment, for example, algae and sand. These foulants will block the membrane, which leads to a new economic and environmental problem in terms of waste management at the end of their life. To address the aforementioned challenges, a new generation of superamphiphilic vitrimer epoxy resin membranes (SAVER) to separate oil and water efficiently is reported. Similar to classical epoxy resins, SAVER shows strong mechanical robustness and sustains exposure to aqua regia and sodium hydroxide solutions. Furthermore, the blocked membrane can be easily recovered when contaminated with mixed foulants by using dynamic transesterification reactions in the polymer network. The ease with which biobased SAVER can be manufactured, used, recycled, and re-used without losing value points to new directions in designing a closed-loop superamphiphilic membrane life cycle.

Municipal solid waste recycling: Impacts on energy savings and air pollution

ABSTRACT In recent years, recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW) has been recognized as one of the most efficient methods of waste management in terms of environmental benefits. This study investigates the energy savings and other environmental benefits of recycling of dry MSW collected in Shiraz, Iran (2018). The impact of different recycling rates (current = 15%, desirable = 50%, ideal = 80%) on environmental benefits and energy savings were assessed. The annual quantity of recycled components were defined as glass (735 tons), plastic carrier bags (555 tons), cardboard (3,874 tons), paper (3,806 tons), disposable plastic containers (287 tons), other types of metals (785 tons), disposable metallic containers (aluminum) (171 tons), other types of plastics (812 tons) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (887 tons). The results confirmed that recycling of paper and glass in three different scenarios resulted in a reduction of 1.01, 2.14, and 3.43 million tons of air pollutant emissions, respectively. By improving the recycling rates from 15 to 80%, overall energy savings can improve by between a factor of 3.5 to 5.5. Also, a reduction of approximately 2–3.5% in air pollutant emissions can be achieved by upgrading the current recycling program (15% recycling rate) to favorable and ideal conditions. Implications: In recent years, recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW) has been recognized as one of the most efficient methods of waste management in terms of environmental benefits. This study investigates the energy savings and other environmental benefits of recycling of dry MSW collected in Shiraz, Iran (2018). According to available data, there has been little effort for recycling in developing countries, and waste landfilling is recognized as the most favorable option in MSW management. The aim of this study was to characterize MSW components in Shiraz, Iran, and to quantify the environmental benefits and energy savings as result of paper, glass, and aluminum recycling. This work is novel in that there are no reports to our knowledge of the environmental benefits and energy savings resulting from different recycling scenarios including current (15%), desirable (50%), and ideal (80%) recycling for aluminum, paper, and glass. The results of this work have broad implications both for other regions owing to the pervasiveness of recycling facilities and also for developing countries that can strive towards the infrastructure needed to reach improved recycling scenarios.

Working towards Sustainable Innovation for Green Waste Benefits: The Role of Awareness of Consequences in the Adoption of Shaded Cocoa Agroforestry in Ghana

Drawing on the awareness of consequence literature, this paper unpacks how the awareness of the consequences of full-sun cocoa production can encourage farmers to adopt shaded cocoa agroforestry that preserves the land and favours better cocoa farm waste management. Using Ghana as a case study, the paper provides distinctive insights on how shaded cocoa agroforestry systems provide sustainable yields in the medium- to long-term, relative to unshaded systems. We also find that cocoa farmers’ awareness of consequences about the effects of undertaking unshaded cocoa production could make individual farmers exhibit pro-environmental behaviour, leading to the adoption of cocoa agroforestry systems that help preserve soil fertility and improve waste management. We recommend that the utilization of awareness of consequence protocols, coupled with the efficient diffusion of information on the benefits of agroforestry in terms of waste management and environmental improvements to the cocoa farmers, could increase the adoption of shaded cocoa production regimes in Ghana.

The Plastic Economy

The proliferation of plastic has generated wide-ranging consequences in terms of waste management, pollution, human and animal health, the economy and the environment. This report reviews the literature on the impacts of plastic, both positive and negative. We begin with a brief explanation of the processes by which plastic is produced and an overview of the structure of the plastic economy. We then discuss the impacts of plastic, organized by whether they occur upstream, midstream or downstream. Next, we compare virgin plastic production against a range of alternative materials and processes that have been developed with the aim of matching the physical characteristics of plastics while contributing less to the problem of waste generation. Lastly, acknowledging the transboundary challenge of plastic pollution, we examine plastic regulations and discuss evidence of their efficacy at reducing plastic use and pollution.

Capital Intensity and Labour Productivity in Waste Companies

At first glance, it might seem that the economic aspects of sustainability in terms of waste management have resolved themselves already in areas of activity. In reality, however, companies in this area also need to address how to ensure their future operations. The primary priority for companies in the area of waste disposal is to provide efficient collection, sorting, and recycling, effectively using company resources. The goal of this paper was to explore the relation between capital intensity and the productivity of labour in companies in the waste sector in the countries of the Visegrad Group (V4), and consequently, to define the bonds among economic indicators in the form of the economic normal. The study used data from 875 enterprises from the V4 countries, which were divided into categories according to the development of capital intensity and labour productivity. This study found that companies mainly implement modest investment development, which was characterised by the high effectiveness of capital usage, diminishing labour productivity, low labour endowment, but at the same time, increasing profitability. The reason for the labour productivity decrease was due to the growing proportional cost of labour. This trend was typical for most of the large-sized and middle-sized companies, whereas for most small companies, there was a dominant severe capital development with decreasing labour productivity and relatively high profitability of incomes. The smallest representation takes companies with capital-intensive development with the positive development of all monitored economic indicators.

An analisys the energy and raw materials structure of household and industrial waste management

This article explores the issue of developing the structure of fuel and raw material resources that provides for the disposal of various types a waste. In this case, the waste will be used as secondary raw materials or as fuel for the production of thermal or electric energy. The structure will significantly reduce the number of waste landfills in the country, which is especially important in the current situation of waste management. The scalability property of the structure makes it possible to apply it both to a group of enterprises and to an entire region. The most relevant publications examining the issues of waste management and processing are considered. As an example, we consider the current situation in terms of waste management in the Rostov region. The mutual arrangement of the largest waste landfills and industrial enterprises is given. A structure is proposed that ensures the rationalization of the raw material structure of each enterprises, as well as reducing the quantity and volume of waste landfills in the region.

Extraction and characterization of cellulosic fiber from Centaurea solstitialis for composites

With increasing ecological awareness, researchers around the world seek to make composites reinforced with more eco-friendly natural fibers. In this study, Centaurea solstitialis (yellow star thistle) fibers were characterized as a potential natural fiber reinforcement for green composites. Generally, Centaurea solstitialis plants are undesirable because of their detrimental effect on other plants. In this respect, they are generally considered economically worthless in terms of the economical aspect. From this point of view, characterizing Centaurea solstitialis and using them as a natural fiber reinforcement material can be more appropriate in terms of waste management. To characterize the Centaurea solstitialis fibers, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction Analysis, single fiber tensile test, determinations of density and chemical composition were performed. Centaurea solstitialis fibers have 11.2% hemicellulose and 57.20% cellulose content. The crystallinity index and density of fibers were determined as 71.43% and 1.37 g/cm3, respectively. Also, fibers exhibited relatively high tensile strength with 111.85 ± 24.97 MPa and Young’s modulus with 3.41 ± 0.62 GPa. The thermal resistance temperature of Centaurea solstitialis fibers was found as 273 °C. It is suggested that Centaurea solstitialis fiber is a suitable reinforcement candidate for composites with low density, low cost, abundancy and relatively high tensile strength.

Potential of Sustainable Concept for Handling Organic Waste in Tunisia

Nowadays, Tunisia is seeking to implement cost-efficient and sustainable solutions in relation to the treatment of organic waste which, at up to 65%, makes up the largest proportion of total waste generated in the country. Therefore, an efficient tool for decision makers is needed to provide a clear approach about the potential of organic waste as well as the treatment concept, which can be adapted based on technical requirements and local conditions. Results revealed that there is a high variation in terms of the nature of the collected biowaste, which affects the selection of the adopted bioprocess for each geographical zone of the study area. Three main categories of biowaste are produced along the coastline of Tunisia: food waste (FW) (102.543 t/a); green waste (GW) (1.326.930 t/a); and cattle manure (CM) (1.548.350 t/a). Based on the results of similar projects and laboratory-scale research work, anaerobic and aerobic digestion were examined. Regarding aerobic digestion, the monitoring of several physicochemical parameters ascertained that the co-composting of FW and GW at different ratios (GW: FW = 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75) allowed the production of a stable and mature compost. A highly qualified end-product was generated from each trial categorized as a finished compost of class V with reference to German Standards of compost. Regarding the anaerobic process, different feedstock mixtures (FW:CM = 0:1, 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1) were prepared to feed semi-continuous anaerobic reactors. However, a significant improvement in the process development was recorded for digesters including a higher fraction of FW, which produced 0.846 LN/kg VSin as the maximum biogas production. Therefore, biological treatments of food waste and different co-substrates seems to be a suitable technique for Tunisia in terms of waste management, environmental, and energy aspects. However, the evaluation of the efficiency of the proposed biological treatments was also verified by a draw-up of a technical and economic feasibility analysis. Although the cost–benefit estimations proved that the profits from both the compost and biogas plants would be very modest, the feasibility of such sustainable projects should not only be evaluated on an economic basis, but also by taking into account socio-environmental considerations including decreasing environmental threats, providing work opportunities, increasing incomes, stimulating public awareness as well as reducing the operating costs linked to landfilling.

From green buildings to living buildings? Rating schemes and waste management practices in Australian educational buildings

PurposeThere is an increasing level of recognition of the pressing issues associated with climate change and resource depletion. As a result, it is well recognised that higher education institutions bear responsibilities to promote “sustainable development”. Many universities have adopted green building practices in the construction of their building infrastructure. A variety of Green Building Rating Tools (GBRTs) have been designed to facilitate green building developments. Thus, the aim of this research is to identify mechanisms to improve current GBRTs in terms of waste management (WM) practices by using green star accredited educational buildings in Australia.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was adopted in this study to achieve the research aim by conducting three case studies of educational buildings in South Australia. Thirty three interviews were carried out in a face-to-face, semi-structured manner and project documentations were reviewed. The participants were asked to provide their expert opinions on the GS initiative and its ability to minimise waste generation, the impact of the GS initiative on solid WM practices and problems associated with the implementation process of the GS initiative. Data was analysed using code-based content analysis using the NVivo software package. Tables and figures were used as the visualization technique to present an expedient understanding in a holistic manner.FindingsFindings showed that the Green Star (GS) initiative drives change in the way current practices are performed in the Australian construction industry. However, this study revealed that WM targets outlined in the GS initiative are not challenging enough. Thus, suggestions are provided in this research to improve the WM aspects of GS initiatives by looking beyond a focus on “sustainability” and “waste minimisation” towards a focus on regenerative environments.Originality/valueThese findings are valuable for practitioners and policymakers seeking to improve WM practices and to address issues associated with climate change and resource depletion.

PENINGKATAN KESADARAN LINGKUNGAN DENGAN PELATIHAN PENGOLAHAN SAMPAH DI DESA SUMBERMULYO KECAMATAN BAMBANGLIPURO

Bambanglipuro sub-district is a sub-district in the lowlands. The Capital District is 22 meters above sea level. Distance of the Capital District to the Government Center (Capital) of Bantul Regency is 10 Km. Bambanglipuro sub-district has a climate like a low-lying area in the tropics with hot weather as its trademark. The highest temperature recorded in Bambanglipuro sub-district is 31ºC with the lowest temperature of 23ºC. The area stretch in Bambanglipuro sub-district is 99.5% in the form of flat to choppy areas and 0.5% in the form of choppy to hilly areas. The purpose of this service was to create a community of Sumbermulyo Village, Bambanglipuro sub-district who is independent, especially in terms of waste management and to improve the economy of Sumbermulyo Village, Bambanglipuro sub-district through the results of waste management in the environment. The method used in this service is through counseling and training on waste management located in Sumbermulyo Village, Bambanglipuro sub-district in February 2020 with a predetermined date. Community service has been carried out well and smoothly. Sumbermulyo Village Community Bambanglipuro sub-district shows a positive response and plays an active role in all the activities carried out. The community wants that there is further guidance, especially in the field of waste management so that community empowerment can run optimally Â